New WightSAR Drone Already Helping Save Lives

A new state-of-the-art drone is already proving its worth in emergencies across the Isle of Wight.

WightSAR has deployed the DJI Matrice 4TD at a number of incidents since it was bought with a £12,000 grant from Island Roads’ Isle of Wight Foundation.

The drone has been used at major fires, including the catastrophic blaze at Headon Warren in July, as well as a large industrial fire in Ryde.

It has also played a role in searches for vulnerable missing people.

The drone is fitted with thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras, along with collision avoidance and aircraft detection technology.

During the Headon Warren fire, its thermal imaging helped firefighters identify hotspots across the remote grassland and allowed crews to direct long-range hoses onto the most effective locations.

WightSAR chairman and drone pilot Dean Terrett said the difficult terrain meant the technology was particularly valuable to firefighters.

He said the drone provided crews with a large amount of technical information during the incident.

Its capabilities were demonstrated again during a fire at an industrial and storage yard in Ryde in July.

Thermal images alerted controllers to a potentially dangerous situation developing inside a container, allowing firefighters to withdraw.

The drone was also used to direct long-range hoses towards the most effective areas during the incident, which took almost two days to extinguish. It was in operation for 37 hours.

Away from firefighting, the drone has been used in searches for vulnerable people.

In June, it helped locate a man experiencing a mental health crisis who had hidden in a copse near St Mary’s Hospital.

In May, it carried out extensive foreshore searches between Ryde and East Cowes during the search for a man believed to have swum from the mainland.

The drone has also been used to monitor events, including a round-the-Island run, where it helped keep an eye on competitors travelling through difficult paths in Luccombe in misty conditions.

WightSAR is now using some of the foundation funding to train a further four or five pilots, adding to the three already operating within the team.

Mr Terrett said continued support from the Isle of Wight Foundation, which has provided more than £50,000 to WightSAR over the years, had been vital to its work.

Eddie Fellows, chairman of the Isle of Wight Foundation, said the organisation's work in protecting people and property was extremely important.

Isle of Wight Council resilience co-ordinator Iain Lawrie also praised WightSAR's contribution to emergency operations, saying the drone provides valuable real-time information to responders during challenging incidents.

The Isle of Wight Foundation is made up of Island Roads Services, Meridiam, VINCI Concessions and Ringway Island Roads. Its funding is provided through community programmes and is separate from Highways PFI money.

More information about WightSAR and volunteering opportunities is available through the WightSAR website.